By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
“Purple Rain,” the iconic film that introduced musical superstar Prince on the big screen along with a host of talented young performers including Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day and Jerome Benton, is turning 40 and will be celebrated with a couple of high-profile events this weekend.
Up first, the city of Los Angeles is honoring some of the original actors and musicians from the film such as Benton, prolific singer Jill Jones, renowned original Prince band member André Cymone and special guests at a ceremony set for City Hall May 24 at 10 a.m. Fans are urged to wear purple either in person or at home where the proceedings may be viewed live on YouTube @Iamjeromebentonofficial.
Of the commemoration, Benton admitted to Tasty Clips that “It brought a tear to my spirit, because I wish [Prince] were here to receive that. He was the one that requested me to come work with [brother] Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam and the band [Flyte Time] as a roadie. I mean, he asked for me to come do it. Things just took off from there.”
Sure did. Benton went on to become one of the most iconic soul hype men this side of James Brown’s Bobby Byrd as part of Morris Day & The Time. He would also become a member of another Paisley Park Studio band The Family, as well as appearing in two more films with Prince.
Said Benton: “It’s a gift that has been guided by Prince, bless his soul. He gave me a purpose and he said do your thing. I exercised the freedom I was given and the creativity from my growth being a Northsider (along with supportive challenges from his family and friends).”
On May 26 at 5 p.m., the celebration continues with a special 40th anniversary screening of “Purple Rain” — now digitally restored and enhanced in 4K — at The Regent DTLA, 448 Main St. Benton, Jones, Cymone and Prince historian Jeremiah “Dr. Funkenberry” Freed will be in attendance for a Q&A panel, along with DJ sets by C-Minus and Chrome Queen.
Though so many principles are involved, all signage makes sure to let it be known that this outpouring of love is not associated with the Prince estate, which Benton attributes to a lack of communication and not abiding by what has been agreed to in the past.
“That’s all it is,” he said of a seeming disassociation with many who were a part of “The Minneapolis Sound.” “For me, I’ve moved on and I’m not going to let it ruin my day. Not that I’m not paying attention to it, cause it’s going to correct itself at some point. It’s going to have to. And shame to those who are playing the game with it. To put it nicely. It keeps me from being bitter (laughs).”
We moved on to three Prince songs that are particularly close to his heart: “‘Venus de Milo.’ It’s a piano instrumental thing from ‘Under The Cherry Moon.’ ‘Sometimes It Snows in April’ and ‘Dirty Mind.’ There’s a longer list but you asked for three. I like everything that he’s done.”
As for anything he may still own from his time shooting “Purple Rain,” Benton revealed he has scripts, two suits, a pair of shoes and memories.
“That’s what I have along with an opportunity,” he added. “Prince gave us a great platform and I won’t be one to forsake it with mayhem and confusion. Love my brother!”
TICKET WATCH: Seats go on sale via Ticketmaster at 10 a.m., May 24 for Lenny Kravitz’ historic “Blue Electric Light” Las Vegas October residency dates (Oct. 18, 19, 23, 25, 26) at Park MGM’s Dolby Live.
CLIPPETTES: The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra presents Brenda Russell on May 24 at The Roxy, as Tito Puente Jr. brings a taste of Cuba to Catalina Jazz Club, and comic Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias goes live at The Cosmopolitan …
Also that evening, Kraftwerk continues its residency at Walt Disney Concert Hall with six more nights, and rapper 24KGoldn hits the stage of the El Rey …
The Hollywood Bowl celebrates the 30th anniversary of “Disney’s The Lion King” May 25 with an immersive live-to-film concert event featuring the original 1994 film, live orchestra, vocal performances and more from celebrity guests Jennifer Hudson, Jason Weaver, Billy Eichner, Bradley Gibson, Ernie Sabella, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane and more …
L.A. native Noah Haidu joins forces with jazz icons Buster Williams and Lenny White for a May 26 show at Catalina Jazz Club …
Marva King & “The Gems” featuring “Funk U” Morris Mills are at Vibrato Grill on May 28 …
Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter Slash visits Amoeba Hollywood at 5 p.m. on May 29 to play a special acoustic set from his star-studded new album “Orgy of the Damned” …
Later, James Taylor is at the Hollywood Bowl, Yaya Bey with DJ Exaktly at The Paramount, Fivio Foreign at The Observatory, and booksoup.com presents an evening with Michael McDonald and Paul Reiser at the El Rey in support of their new memoir, “What A Fool Believes” …
The Pasadena Playhouse production of “Jelly’s Last Jam” with Cress Williams (“Black Lightning”) runs May 29- June 23 …
May 30 finds Sean Paul at Anaheim’s House of Blues, Avril Lavigne bringing her greatest hits tour to The Forum, and jazz fusion keyboardist Cameron Graves and Planetary Prince plus special guests and DJ Linafornia at Gold Diggers.
TASTY QUIP: “Playing Carlton on Fresh Prince became a sacrifice. I used to always say doing Carlton was the greatest and worst thing that ever happened to me. It was one of the greatest roles that I ever was fortunate enough to play, but it was also the role that stopped me from acting again because people couldn’t see me as anything else. The sacrifice was not having an acting career anymore.” – ALFONSO RIBIERO to Closer Weekly
TC ON TV: May 24 – “Atlas” (Netflix): Jennifer Lopez, Sterling A. Brown and Simu Liu star in this sci-fi thriller. “Destination: Heaven” (GAPF): A faith drama starring Harry Lennix (“The Blacklist,” “The Five Heartbeats”) as God encountering people in a myriad of circumstances who all believe they’re doing the right things only to discover their approach is going through the motions rather than growing emotionally or intellectually. “Fox and Friends” (Fox News): Flo Rida kicks off the Summer Concert Series. “Great Performances” (PBS): The Broadway hit revival of Ossie Davis’ “Purlie Victorius,” directed by Kenny Leon and starring Leslie Odom Jr. is presented.
May 25 – “Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter” (IFC/AMC+): Yvonne Orji returns as host with this week’s episode tabling a conversation with comedy actresses Quinta Brunson, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Ego Nwodim, Michelle Buteau and Renee Elise Goldsberry. “Gaga Chromatica Ball” (HBO/MAX): Lady Gaga delivers a career-defining performance in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,000 people at Dodger Stadium in this exclusive filmed concert special.
May 26 – “National Memorial Day Concert 2024” (PBS): With Cynthia Erivo, Patina Miller, Joe Mantegna, Bryan Cranston, BD Wong and more.
May 28 – “For Love & Life: No Ordinary Campaign” (Prime): President Barack Obama is a part of this documentary on a couple fighting ALS who attempt to improve conditions nationwide. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Darius Rucker “Beat Shazam” (Fox): Jamie Foxx and daughter/DJ Corinne Foxx return for season seven of the interactive musical game show.
May 29 – “The View” (ABC): “Sister Act 2” Reunion “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Jerrod Carmichael “Kelly Clarkson” (Syn): South African singer Tyla “MasterChef” (Fox): Season 14 brings together amateur cooks from four generations — Millennials, Baby Boomers, Gen Z and Gen X.
May 30 – “Gary ‘G Thang’ Johnson: Sitcho Ass Down” (AllBlk): No thangs off limits in this stand-up comedy special directed by Bentley Kyle Evans. “Eric” (Netflix): Set in 1980s New York, this emotional thriller with Benedict Cumberbatch and Clarke Peters follows the desperate search of a father when his 9-year-old son disappears one morning on the way to school. “Star Trek: Discovery” (Paramount+): The voyage comes to an end after five seasons. “60 Days In” (A&E): Seven new participants go behind bars. “Outchef’d” (Food/MAX): Eddie Jackson challenges amateur home cooks to go head-to-head in an intense, one-round cookoff against acclaimed celebrity chefs.
END QUOTE: “Don’t take life too seriously and have fun. Don’t waste your time on things that your ego will try and convince you are important.” – RuPAUL (whose game show “Lingo” returns May 24 on CBS)
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached attastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
